Diversified Climate Resilient Pecan (carya Illinoinensis (wangenh.) K. Koch) Based Sustainable Agroforestry Improves Livelihood and Returns in Indian Himalaya
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Mono-cropping systems are prone to increasing climate variability leading to biotic and abiotic pressure, which results in a risk of failure.Therefore, a diversified pecan-based agroforestry experiment was conducted (2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016) with an aim to enhance productivity, profitability and resilience over sole cropping (without pecan) in the rainfed ecosystem of the Indian Himalaya.It was hypothesized that integration of seasonal crops in the alleys of pecan trees will improve production, livelihood and returns due to diversified output.Four cropping systems, viz.FM-L, FM-W, S-L and S-W were evaluated under pecan and sole cropping.Between two situations, wheat equivalent grain yield (WEGY) and production efficiency (PE) were significantly higher in sole cropping (15.06 & 16.3%) as compared to under pecan.Among cropping systems WEGY was significantly higher in S-W ranging between 4.9 and 51.4% compared to other cropping systems.S-W system was also significantly more productive.In 2016 fruit, wood, litter fall and C stock were recorded as 1.11, 21.31, 8.44 and 46.50 t ha -1 for pecan, respectively.The grain productivity of crops was positively correlated with rainfall.The gross returns was threefold with pecan as compared to sole cropping (1345.9$ ha -1 ) concerning 2016.Irrespective of growing situations S-W (3629.2$ ha -1 ) cropping system provided maximum gross returns in year 2016.Hence, it is concluded that pecan-based agroforestry is more profitable in terms of economics, diversified output and ecological balance.
Authors: R.P. YADAV, J.K. BISHT, T. MONDAL, V.S. MEENA, B.M. PANDEY, P.K. MISHRA, A. PATTANAYAK, L. KANT
Institution: Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan
Language: English
Subfield: Forestry
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3170106948